I AM

Anthony Macchiarella Willcox

When I watched this movie, I could not help but to feel a strong connection with the director. I have been in his shoes, in a sense, I have felt his depression. I have felt an absolute lust for deaths icy embrace. But every time I fall rock bottom, I have a sudden realization or epiphany that changes the way I think, and feel for the planet in which I live. This movie really spoke to me, and made me realize that we are all connected in one way or another. Some may think nothing of this connection, but I acknowledge its existence. Some do not know what it is like to feel all alone in such a large world. We are just specs of dust in the sight of the universe after all. A quick aside; the star VY Canis Majoris, is approximately 7 billion times the size of our sun, which means it would take 7 quadrillion earths to fill its radius. If that is not enough to make you feel insignificant, then I do not know what will. By ourselves we are powerless, but together we are strong. The movie also touched on a deeper understanding of humanity and our connections with one another. How our actions influence the rest of the world, a famous quote that I thought best describes this is: It has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world - Chaos Theory. I believe that this theory is somewhat accurate, though over exaggerated. Lets say that I use a dollar at a local grocery store in Arcata to buy a stick of gum. How on earth could it effect someone all the way in Missouri? It is very well possible, if not likely that, that dollar is used to pay for somebodies rent. Which then in turn is used to buy an apple, then so on and so forth, until finally it could mean the difference between life and death to someone half way across the country, or even the world. Not only do our physical belongs travel globally, but so do our thoughts and even feelings! I was astonished to see how our emotions can trigger a response in something as small as the bacteria on yogurt. Our emotions have a powerful effect on our environment, when the film showed us the charts of electrical activity output on 9/11, it showed a large spike in emotions. For such a tragic and rueful day to have that much of an impact on the entire globe is just fascinating to me. This brings me back to the point that was made about us all being connected, not by physical strings and wires, but by waves and invisible chords of emotions and thought. Why does hate fill our lives when we all share so much in common? If we focused more on the simple truths in life and helped each other as one race human then we could achieve so much more. Can we one day cast away the veils that blind us, or shall our judgment be ever shrouded by hate. We must seek to break down the walls that divide us, with the hammers that crush injustice and preserve tolerance. I would like to tell you that I have faith in humanity as a whole and that this dream can become reality. But I have yet to see anyone put forth the effort to make a change. Though I have stated that we are merely dust in the wind, I leave with this final piece of inspiration to encourage hope in our quest for change. I am a part of this earth, like you. Not only am I an individual, I am a part of something much, much larger than that. A.W.